Hello, my lovely reader! So first, to all of you that have read and reviewed this story in the five years that I haven't updated- THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! Seriously, you all blew me away. I've read every single review! I cannot believe all of the kind comments that you all have written- y'all are the best!

So here's a chapter! My plan at this point is, in fact to finish this story. I'm also considering writing a fic that would either be a companion or a sequel to this one. It would mainly be a bunch of fluffy stories featuring cute Little!Loki. Would that be something y'all would be interested in? Let me know!

Again, love you all SO much, thank you for sticking with me! I do have another deaged Loki fic if you're interested- it's called Redemption!

Anyways- ALLONS-Y!!!

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Nick Fury stared icily forward, his face set in rage filled silence. His right hand gripped his now silent phone with ever growing intensity as it creaked and groaned under the pressure. For a moment he just stood there, not knowing what to do with himself. Had he called Stark, he would have expected such defiance. But from Bruce? Not in a million years.

A feeble snap echoed against the Helicarrier walls. Fury examined the pitiful remains of his phone with disinterest.

"Agent Hill!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth when the lithe figure of Maria Hill was at his side. She was as stone faced as ever, only glancing for a second towards the sorry excuse for a phone in her director's hand with the briefest of grins.

"Sir?"

Fury sighed. He looked up at the viewing screen which played a livestream of the Chitauri invasion of New York. Frowning, he very unceremoniously shoved the phone pieces in the pocket of his leather coat.

"Get ahold of Coulson and tell him to head to the Avengers tower. We're giving the Chitauri what they want whether the Avengers agree with it or not."

Hill's brow furrowed and she shook her head slightly.

"Sir, with all due respect, how do we know that will stop them from-"

"I am not going to watch them try and level that city again, Hill. Now I don't enjoy it any more than you, but our options are a little slim. So are you going to make the call or not?"

His voice was deadly calm yet dripping with rage. Agent Hill set her jaw and turned on her heels, muttering a "yes, sir" on her way out. Behind her stood the Director, his eye glued to the head Chitauri onscreen. They mirrored each other, each ones hands clasped behind his back. Nick's face was grim.

"Round two... let's see how you do without a god to lead you."

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Bruce panted, feeling the weight of what he had just done. He had hung up on Nick Fury. Out of everyone on Earth, he was one of the number one people one doesn't hang up on.

Part of him felt elated at this fact while the other part was still seething at Nick's words. A few months ago, Bruce would have given Loki up, no questions asked. He would have shoved Loki out the window, not caring whether he was caught on the way down. But after having the boy with the Avengers gave Bruce a new perspective and he would die before anything happened to him. Bruce clenched his fist, green still running through his veins.

"Was that the furious one?"

Loki's small, halting voice broke Bruce's reverie. He cleared his throat, walking towards the couch where Loki sat stroking Fluff's ear with a tiny thumb.

"Uh... yeah, kid, it was."

Bruce lowered himself to the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. Loki's eyes had a far off, nightmarish look to them that made Bruce shudder. Such a terrified look had no place on such a young face.

"He... he wants to give me up, yes?"

Loki's chest rose and fell erratically, causing his voice to have a high, breathy quality. Bruce's thoughts ran wildly. Without thinking, he gently put a hand on the boy's back. The gesture earned no response, as if Loki were not aware of what was going on around him.

"... Yeah, he does."

With that, Loki's tiny face crumpled, tears running down his face in rivers. He buried his face in Fluff's fur, muffling his sobs only slightly.

"I... I don't want to- want to go back. Plea-please, they hurt me, I-I don't know why, but they hurt me, I don't... I don't want to..."

Bruce couldn't take it anymore. He moved to his knees in front of Loki, gently pulling the boy into a hug. Initially, he shied away, but after about a minute, Loki gave up in sheer emotional exhaustion. For a while, the doctor just held the broken little god as he cried, his back trembling. Holding him, Bruce could feel every bone that had been broken and then crudely stuck back together. He gently traced circles with his thumb, feeling every scar.

And he was angry.

"I know, I know, buddy. We're not gonna give you to them, okay? I promise. "

The words sounded lame even to Bruce. He silently cursed his lack of tact.

A creak behind the pair caught Bruce's attention and he craned his neck around as far as he could.

Tony stood in the doorway, looking very much like a child who got more than he bargained for.

"Um... I came up for some blueberries..."

If Tony Stark could sound apologetic about food, that's as close as it got. But even as he gingerly tip toed to the cupboard, he kept a wary eye on Loki and Bruce. He grabbed a packet of dried blueberries and opened it with a loud zip. Then, walking towards the couch, he shoved a fistful of the tasty berries into his mouth. After chewing, the man of iron set his face.

"What happened?"

Bruce pivoted to face his friend, one hand still rubbing Loki's back. The boy's crying had died down a bit, quickly replaced by hiccups as he tried to control himself.

"Uh, Fury called. Turns out he saw the Chitauri's demands-"

"And he wants us to give Loki over."

Bruce slowly nodded as the words sank in. Tony abruptly turned towards the window, stopping to poke at a no-longer-glowing glowstick that hung off a hook.

"He sending someone to get him?"

Bruce sighed, unconsciously scratching at his temple.

"He may have mentioned something about that before I hung up..."

"Okay, first off, loving this new, sassy Bruce. Can he stay, like-"

"So now we have someone else to worry about?"

Steve's voice interrupted Tony's gushing from the doorway. He stood, his large frame almost entirely hiding Natasha from view. Both of them were dressed in their battle garb, the colors of Cap's spandex contrasting dramatically with the Black Widow's dark leather. He held his shield in one hand while the other was clenched in a fist.

The two silently strode into the room. Bruce glanced apologetically at Steve.

"Sounds like it... sorry Cap..."

For what seemed like an eternity, the room remained completely silent. Loki continued to cling to Fluff, his chin resting on the bears giant stuffed head. His eyes still gazed into nothingness, as if watching something none of the others could see. Disheveled black hair hung over his face.

"When will Thor be back?"

Even in the deafening silence, Loki's voice was just barely audible. Steve smiled slightly and plodded from the center of the room to the couch cushion next to the boy.

"Hopefully soon... if everything goes right, we should have an army of our own..."

At that, Loki seemed to perk up a bit. A hesitant grin swelled in his wet cheeks.

"Asgard's army is the best in the Nine Realms! The bad things don't stand a chance. My daddy-" he paused here, as if reevaluating his words,"-the Allfather leads it. He's the best general, I want to... to make him proud and be just like him... Don't worry, Steve Rogerson, everything will be made well when Thor and my- the Allfather come."

Steve smiled again, this time at Loki's innocence. Before he could respond, Tony's phone rang. Taking a second to look at the caller ID before answering, his eyebrows sank grimly.

"It's Clint," He stated apprehensively. Without waiting for the others to respond, he hit the answer button and brought his phone to his ear. "Talk to me, Clint, what's going on?"

On the other end of the line, Clint's voice was hushed and raspy.

"The army is on the move towards the Avenger's Tower. I've been following them, I don't think they've noticed me yet... so far I don't think they've killed anyone yet, but they've wrecked a couple cars... do you guys have a plan?"

Tony quietly groaned, running his fingers through his hair.

"Uh... Thor's gone back to Asgard to find us an army... Fury is sending someone to grab the kid for the Chitauri... so, yeah no, it's just us. Until Thor comes back, we're high and dry."

There was a crackle on Clint's end of the line. The silence lasted so long that, for a moment, Tony thought he had been hung up on.

"Clint?"

"Tony... we might have to give him up. Maybe after Thor brings the army we could get him back, but we just cannot handle this many-"

"There has to be some other way. C'mon we handed these guys' butts to them a few months ago."

More silence. Tony felt his anxiety building. He turned towards Loki. The boy's eyes were wide with terror. His arms and legs wrapped around Fluff and he had since backed away from Bruce's hand. Now he was almost between the couch cushions, so desperate was his desire to be safe.

Tony saw the same horrors he experienced in Afghanistan, but on the face of a three-year-old.

"Well, you've got about five minutes to come up with something good, Tony..."

Tony swallowed thickly.

"Right."

The man of iron quickly disconnected. His arm hung limply at his side, his eyes still locked on Loki. Emerald green pools gazed back at him. Being the uncannily perceptive toddler that he was, Loki seemed to understand what Clint must have said on the other line. He pushed himself deeper into the couch.

"No, no, no, no, no..."

His tiny voice came out as a whisper. Tony forced himself to tear his eyes towards Steve, who was still on the couch next to Loki.

"Cap... a word..."

Steve nodded, leaving his shield as he headed towards the doorway. Tony followed suit and closed the door behind them. After shutting it, he leaned against it and pinched the bridge of his nose. Steve stood like a wall in front of him, arms crossed at his chest.

"It's not good, is it...?"

Tony released his nose, choosing instead to close his eyes and rest his head against the door.

"Uh... no... Clint says the Chitauri are coming now. At this point, we probably have around four-ish minutes to come up with a plan before they come in and take the kid by force."

Tony stopped, his voice growing in agitation and pitch. He exhaled slowly, recollecting his thoughts.

"Clint... Clint thinks we should give him up. He doesn't think there's any way we can punch our way through this one. He... he said we could follow them when Thor comes with the army, but unless he comes soon-"

"Tony... there's gotta be another way... that would destroy both Loki and Thor-"

"DON'T-" Tony paused to contain himself, "Don't you think I know that? Every time I look at that kid, all I see is the hell I went through in Afghanistan. Except now he's a little kid and he doesn't understand. I don't want to willingly give him up, Cap, I don't, but... I don't see another way. I can't think of anything."

Dead silence. Both men stared at each other for an eternity. Finally, Steve shook his head.

"We wait for Thor. If he doesn't come..."

Steve couldn't even bring himself to say it. Understanding, Tony nodded as if in shock. Then they turned and walked slowly, mechanically back into the room.

The air felt thick. Natasha, who had been listening at the doorway watched the two men, her face unreadable. But as both of them stood in the center of the room, unable to speak what had just occurred, she nodded. Then she turned to Bruce, whose face fell. Understanding passed between the four adults in that single moment of stillness.

Steve slowly tread towards the tall windows behind the couch. Not too far away, he could see a massive army marching in unison towards the tower. The army seemed to stretch as far as the captain's eyes could see. He sighed, rubbing his eyes with a gloved hand.

Loki slid off the side of the couch, careful not to touch Bruce. Dragging Fluff behind him, he stood at the window next to Steve. Upon seeing the army, Loki took a deep, shaky inhale. Then, he hesitantly tugged at the captain's hand.

Realizing Loki was trying to get his attention, Steve bent down to his level with a smile. The god of mischief steeled his face, looking exceedingly brave but for a slightly trembling lower lip. With shaking hands, he placed his bear into Steve's arms.

"Please... please take care of Fluff... I- I don't want him to... to be taken, too..."

Steve felt tears spring into his eyes as he slowly nodded. He put his hand on Loki's shoulder. The boy sniffed as his brave face threatened to falter and tears slipped unbidden from his eyes.

"Do... do you think Allfather would be proud of me...?"

Steve was taken aback.

"Of course..."

Loki averted his gaze.

"What... what about Thor... would he be proud of me?"

The captain held onto his smile for dear life.

"Oh, I know Thor is already proud of you, buddy."

Then, Loki's head turned all the way down to the floor, his voice cracking.

"And... and Mother, too...?"

Steve felt his resolve fading.

"Yes, your mom would be so proud of you. You're being so brave."

Then, just as the words came out of his mouth, a thought entered his mind. Something Thor had mentioned a bit after the original battle with the Chitauri. Something that brought just a little bit of hope.

"Hey, Loki... did your mom teach you magic?"

Loki's head slowly rose to look at Steve.

"A bit, yes... I... I was born with my seidr, but I didn't know what to do with it, so she started teaching me some small things..." His eyes shifted down towards his feet, "It's women's craft, but she said I'm quite good for my age... but da-Allfather doesn't like it."

A bit of righteous anger rose up in Steve. So far from what he had heard of Odin, he wasn't a big fan.

"What has she taught you so far?"

Loki looked up at him, eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

"You... you really want to know?"

Steve smiled reassuringly. "Yeah!"

With a smile that reminded Steve why he was called the 'god of mischief', Loki held his hand out behind him. A wave of green light danced from his fingertips, creating a form, an illusion. It was a very familiar looking person...

Steve grinned wider than he had all day. With all the excitement of a giddy child, he glanced back at Tony. The man of iron looked back, hope etching its way onto his features.

And without speaking, they knew they had a plan.

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Again, thank you for reviewing, favoriting, and following!!! I don't have time to go through and respond to every review this time around (because I have five years worth), but I will respond to every review after this chapter goes up!!!

Love you all! *gives tea and cookies*

Also, finally spelled SHIELD right in this chapter ;P